Monday, August 13, 2012

It didn’t take long for people to realize how great LeBron James was this past NBA season; MVP, Finals MVP, World Champion.After two years of media scrutiny, King James finally received the credit and title he deserved: greatest basketball player on the planet.No longer could people complain about his move to Miami, his game on the court, or anything in between.King James had arrived.So when LeBron registered the first ever triple double in an Olympic Game last week, it came as no surprise to anyone.This team was his, and it was going to go as far as he would take it.

Yesterday he continued his dominance as he led Team USA to another gold medal against Spain.When the game got close at the end of the third quarter, King James took over.When the game got close again in the fourth quarter, LeBron hit a huge 3 pointer over Marc Gasol.He was able to dominate on offense, but did it without having to score.His elite passing skills and command for a double team left guys like Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant wide open every game to go on shooting sprees.He opened the floor up and made it possible for an undersized team of scoring forwards to become an elite team of unguardable players.

James wasn’t the only dominant player; the entire team deserves credit as they all came together at the right time to bring home the gold.Kevin Durant broke the Olympic scoring record as he put up 156 points on 34-of-65 shooting from three point range this tournament, also breaking the record for most threes made and attempted.Carmelo Anthony also shot the lights out, going 23-of-46 from deep for the tournament, hitting a cool 50% of his threes.Kobe Bryant got hot in the knockout round and took over for stretches.The point guard play of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Russell Westbrook applied pressure to every opponent’s backcourt, starting up endless fast breaks and keeping momentum in our favor.Kevin Love played the role of unsung big man, fighting in the paint for rebounds and loose balls and locking down opponents.Together as a unit this team was able to go 8-0, averaging 115 points a game with a 34 point scoring margin.They may not have been the ideal team on paper, but they made it work by utilizing their strengths and playing as an unselfish unit.Together, they accomplished their goal of bringing the gold medal back to the USA. It also helped having the best player on the planet.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

The Final Four teams will take the court today, with Spain first up against Russia, followed by the USA in a rematch from last week against Argentina. Winners will advance to the Gold Medal game, with the losers playing for bronze. The biggest suprise from this olympics has to be Russia. Not many predicted them to amake it this far, but with a revived Andrei Kirilenko leading the pack, and getting solid contributions from players like Timofey Mosgov and Alexey Shved, this team has only lost once during this tournament. Expect them to play a great game against Spain, who only put up a measly 66 points against France last game. Don't be surprised if USA is playing the gold medal game against Russia. You have been forewarned.

Team USA on the other hand played a solid game against Argentina last week, pulling away in the second half by dominating the third quarter in last week's game. Expect the Argentinians to put up a heck of a fight, and don't be surprised if it gets a little chippy at the end, as their continued 'sore loser streak' is sure to continue. USA should pull away at the end of this one as well.

Medal Games are on Sunday afternoon. So get out your American Flags and expect the Newest Dream team to bring home another gold.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Team USA finished a strong qualifying round on Monday, dominating Argentina in their final tune up. It was a tale of two halves, with the second half defining what this team is truly capable of during this Olympiad: total perimeter domination. Offensively and defensively, the US were able to control the perimeter during the second half, pull away from Argentina, and close out the game in dominating fashion.
The team shot 51 percent from three point range on Monday, going an insane 20-39 from deep. That kind of sharpshooting can more than make up for their lack of depth inside. They do have a serviceable big man down low in Kevin Love, but Coach K has chose to go with a forward heavy lineup, spreading the floor and mismatching opponents. Games will be played all day so stay tuned!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Americans were able to overcome a slow start and squeak out a 47 point victory against Tunisia yesterday, highlighted by Anthony Davis' 30 alley oops and Kobe Bean Bryant signing a Tunisian player's sneaker after the game. Next up is Nigeria on Thursday. Can YOU find Tunisia on a map?